Perpetual Traveller Overseas

The European economic reality Poem

2012-02-16T05:48:00.000-08:00

As a historical European economic crisis unfolds before our very eyes and we see a shift of real power move to Asia, here is a fitting poem that I wrote to capture the light side of this new sickening reality:

Who will tell the Greeks they will eventually go Bust?
It seems that the euro is no longer a Must!
Its the EU's austerity answer to the economic disaster,
Tax more of the same and no need to care about the Trust.
---
How to inform the Italians they are beginning to Shrink?
And who will update the Swiss they are no longer in Sync?
Regardless of desires it all bitterly transpires,
That the once ice cool will not take long to melt and Sink!
---
There's nothing like the sound of the shallow jumping in at the Deep!
As the countries on the edge are beginning to Weep!
Seeking a Political womb or a European counseling room,
In the end they will give more than they get to Keep!
---
Who will advise the non-elected they were never in Demand?
And that the power of the vote should be the only Command,
Highly creative expenses and commissions that were senseless,
Yet the public never demonstrated the stomach to Stand.
---
German and French leaders collude like the voice of Big Brother,
Preaching to the sick, mortally ill and the multiple Other.
Will the British get to escape the European economical rape,
For sure they will nag just like an "I told you so" Mother.
----
So how will the mighty Europe eventually End?
Perhaps begging to the Chinese with an extra Bend!
The concept of bail-out is no longer a lingering doubt,
It boils down to the message they will finally forge to Send.

Europe's 10 cheapest cities to visit

2012-02-16T05:37:00.000-08:00

As we live in a age of austerity with the continental countries of Europe facing unprecedented EU challenges, such as escalating inflaton rates, higher VAT and with the general impact of the credit crunch and import costs, future tourists are starting to look carefully which destination offers the best value for summer 2012 or a winter break.

Here below is the updated list of Europe's 10 cheapest major cities to visit.

The greatest surprise on the list is London, which due to the fact it is outside the EU prices are relatively falling enabling it to reach Europe's bargain hotspot top 10 for the first time in 5 years. This is good news for Olympic Games visitors, however we must balance this information with the recent increase in exchange between the euro and the Pound Sterling, making it more expensive to buy GB Pounds now than inthe last 5 years or so.

Its interesting to see that Athens London sixth on the list and the Norwegian capital Oslo last.

10 Cheapest European Cities:

Warsaw, Poland.
Prague, Czech Republic.
Budapest, Hungary.
Vilnius, Lithuania.
Brussels, Belgium.
London, England.
Berlin, Germany.
Lisbon, Portugal.
Dublin, Ireland.
Madrid, Spain.

Russia Responds to Space Agency Security Lapse

2012-01-02T03:17:00.000-08:00

A group of Russian bloggers' claim they were able to enter a Russian plant that manufacturers engines for civilian and military rockets and wander around and take pictures for five days without seeing any security has generated a response from the government. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has given Russia's space agency until January to fix security at all its plants or face the consequences. He also said, "I don't advise anybody to penetrate strategic installations anymore."

Source: planetdata.net

India and Japan Strengthen Ties

2011-12-30T03:49:00.000-08:00

Japanese and Indian officials recently met to develop cooperative efforts and strengthen economic and security ties between the two countries. Indian officials said that Maritime Self-Defense Forces and the Indian Navy will conduct joint exercises in 2012 to improve security in the Indian Ocean and to protect sea lanes that Japan uses to import oil. On the economic-side, the leaders agreed that Japan will invest $4.5 billion over the next five years to promote the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. Among other reasons, the two countries are seeking to support their mutual interests to offset China's growing military and economic power in the region.

Source: planetdata.net

10 Refreshing swim-up bars

2011-12-21T01:32:00.000-08:00

1. Dreams Punta Cana
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

2. Beaches Turks & Caicos
Providenciales, Turks & Caicos

3. Excellence Playa Mujeres
Playa Mujeres, Mexico

4. Holiday Village Rhodes
Kolimbia, Greece

5. Riu Touareg
Boa Vista, Cape Verde

6. North Beach Plantation
North Myrtle Beach, US

7. Hotel Mountain Paradise
La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica

8. Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa
Montego Bay, Jamaica

9. Padma Resort Bali at Legian
Legian, Bali, Indonesia

10. Room Mate Grace
New York City, US

Hotel special offers
Go where the deals are! Smart savings in these popular destinations.

Sierra Sky Ranch
Oakhurst, CA
Special offer ONE NIGHT FREE

Cathedral View Guest House
Lincoln, United Kingdom
Special offer 10% off room rate

Canyon Villa Bed and Breakfast In...
Sedona, AZ
Special offer Winter Savings

Hotel Commonwealth
Boston, MA
Special offer 10% off room rate

Loaded Gun Found and Goes Off in Airport

2011-12-16T04:21:00.000-08:00

Transportation Security Agency (TSA) officers located a loaded pistol in a passengers carry-on during screening procedures on Sunday (12/11) at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Atlanta police were called and as an officer was unloading the weapon, it accidentally discharged in the airport. No one was injured. The passenger said he did not realize the gun was in his bag. This is the 67th gun discovered by TSA agents this year at this airport.

Source: planetdata.net

Mosque Torched In "Price Tag" Attack

2011-12-16T04:18:00.000-08:00

Police in Jerusalem clashed with Israeli right-wing extremists after a mosque was set on fire in that city. The mosque which has not been used in years, was also tagged with graffiti that read "A good Arab is a dead Arab." These events are being labeled "price tag" attacks.

Source: planetdata.net

Arrests Made In French Citizens Kidnapping

2011-12-15T01:47:00.000-08:00

Three alleged kidnappers of two French citizens have been arrested in Mali. Phillipe Verdon and Serge Lazarevic were grabbed at gun-point on November 23 in Hombori, Mali. According to one official, the three men were "subcontractors" for Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim) and the hostages are now in their hands. There is no word yet as to the fate of their French captives.

Source: planetdata.net

Chinese Leader Wants Navy Prepared for War

2011-12-15T01:45:00.000-08:00

Interesting insight from China's perspective on recent comments made by Chinese President Hu Jintao when he "urged the navy deputies to accelerate the transformation and modernization of the Navy, and make extended preparations for warfare in order to make greater contributions to safeguarding national security and world peace."

Source: planetdata.net

Belgium Grenade Attack Kills Four

2011-12-14T01:51:00.000-08:00

A man threw grenades and opened fire on a crowd at a bus stop in Liege, Belgium this morning (12/13). At least four people have been reported killed with 64 wounded. At this time there are few details, but one report says the attacker was one of the the dead from self-inflicted wounds. Earlier reports said another had been captured by police, but now officials say Nordine Amrani acted alone.

Source: planetdata.net

Woman Beheaded for "Witchcraft and Sorcery"

2011-12-14T01:47:00.000-08:00

Amnesty International has condemned Monday's (12/12) execution of a Saudi woman convicted of "witchcraft and sorcery." Amina bin Salem was beheaded in the northern province of al-Jawf. She was the second woman beheaded since October when another woman suffered the same fate after being convicted of killing her husband by setting his house on fire. Amnesty International says this marks the 73rd execution in Saudi Arabia this year.

Source: planetdata.net

73 Dead in Hospital Fire

2011-12-13T03:33:00.000-08:00

An early morning fire at the Amri Hospital in Kolkata, India has left at least 73 dead and many dozens injured. Starting in the basement the fire quickly spread throughout the facility trapping many patients who died of suffocation. One expert said that many people died unnecessarily because the hospital is encased in a glass facade that trapped gases and carbon monoxide causing many to be asphyxiated. The state government has already brought criminal charges against the hospital authorities.

Source: planetdata.net

Airlines Fight UK Air Passenger Duty Charges

2011-12-07T23:30:00.001-08:00

A group of four British and Irish passenger airlines have united to try and overturn current Air Passenger Duty charges in the UK.
Air Passenger Duty (APD) is levied on virtually every commercial flight that leaves a UK airport. It's applicable to the tickets brought by all travellers carried by aircraft with a minimum ten ton weight or a minimum of 20 passenger seats, although with an exemption made for connecting flights involving international destinations.

Air Passenger Duty Charges
Put into effect in 1994, UK APD was initially charged at somewhere between £5.00 and £40.00 but it's since been adjusted five times. Now, UK Air Passenger Duty charges range from a minimum of £24.00 to a maximum of £170.00 - a price band influenced by several factors including flight length and ticket class. That's a situation that British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Ryanair and Easyjet all want changed and, backing their cause, they've highlighted what they consider its negative effects.

Airlines Fighting UK APD
The airlines fighting UK APD say it's essentially a penalty placed on passengers and they've put their sentiments into an open letter sent to George Osborne - the present Chancellor of the Exchequer. In it, they state: ‘For hard-working families APD is a tax too far for the privilege of taking a well-earned holiday', adding: ‘It is also a tax on tourism and a tax on business'. ‘Aviation doesn't just drive exports - it is a major exporter in its own right with our airlines earning nearly 11 billion pounds of foreign revenues every year. Tourism is one of the UK's most important earners and is worth 115 billion pounds to the UK economy.'

"We consulted on a range of reforms to APD, including simplifying the tax and making it fairer by extending APD to private jets", a representative for the Treasury stated, in comments quoted by the BBC.

"We will say more on this in the coming weeks. It is also important to remember that the UK is not the only country with a passenger duty, and unlike many other countries the UK does not levy VAT on flights."

Airline passengers bound for the UK were stranded in India and asked for extra cash for fuel

2011-12-05T03:29:00.001-08:00

Airlines have already begun charging for food, drinks, seat assignments and baggage. Now one is demanding that passengers cough up extra cash for fuel.
Hundreds of passengers traveling from India to Britain were stranded Thursday in Amritsar, India, by the charter airline Comtel, which was asking them to kick in money to cover the cost of fuel and fees.
Passengers will not be allowed to leave for Britain unless they pay 10,000 rupees (about $200) each, Bhupinder Kandra, the airline's majority shareholder, told the BB

Tour operator Thomas Cook in financial trouble

2011-12-05T03:23:00.001-08:00

Industry analysts and anxious travelers expressed fears Tuesday for the survival of Britain's venerable tour operator Thomas Cook, after the company, which took more than 22 million people on holidays in the latest year, revealed its financial problems had worsened.

Shares in Europe's second-largest tour operator lost three-fourths of their already depressed value after the company said it was seeking new agreements with its main creditors, barely a month after announcing it had negotiated new funding arrangements to carry it through the slow winter months. The company insisted flights would leave as usual and that it was taking new bookings, but Britons who have bought holidays through the firm were worried.

Jamila Juma-Ware, 27, who has booked a holiday at Spain's Tenerife island in the next three weeks for herself and her mother, said she was "praying it's going to be all right ... but I'm not confident." Several small British travel firms have gone under since the global economic crisis hit in 2008, but Thomas Cook is an industry giant and a fixture of Britain's main streets.

"There are a lot of small independent travel agents around here, but I said I'd rather just book it through someone like Thomas Cook because they're big and there's more of a guarantee they won't go bust," Juma-Ware said. "And then this week this happens." Thomas Cook is, like many airlines and tour operators, suffering from weak consumer demand as Europe's financial crisis has people worried about their jobs.

Unrest in Egypt and in Tunisia _ normally the top winter destination for French travelers _ flooding in Bangkok and disappointing sales in Russia have all added to the pressure on the company. Analysts said the financial troubles could scare away customers, darkening the company's prospects.

"Legitimate questions will be asked as to whether Thomas Cook can survive long-term," said James Hollins, analyst at Evolution Securities. He added that he believes the company could pull through on the strength of businesses outside Britain, but "a more flexible financial structure and massive turnaround are required."

Thomas Cook Group PLC shares were down almost 75 percent at 10.41 pence in afternoon trading in London. On July 1, shares had closed at 134.5 pence. Thomas Cook was due to report annual earnings for 2010-11 on Thursday, but it has put that off indefinitely "as a result of deterioration of trading in some areas of the business, and of its cash and liquidity position since its year end."

Sam Weihagen, Thomas Cook's interim chief executive, insisted it was business as usual: "Flights are leaving on schedule, shops are open and we're taking bookings."

Weihagen said people who book package holidays will be protected by the Air Travel Organizers' Licensing insurance program which is funded by contributions from travel companies. However, those who book only flights are advised to buy their own travel insurance. The group has previously announced plans to reduce its fleet of 41 aircraft to 35, and it hopes to raise 200 million pounds ($312 million) by selling assets, including its stake in Britain's part-privatized air traffic control service.

Wyn Ellis, analyst at Numis Securities, said Thomas Cook's announcement could frighten new customers and alarm suppliers. The company, he said, "faces a difficult near-term future which could lead to significant loss of market share."

The news of the company's problems upset some prospective travelers near its shop in the St. James neighborhood of London on Tuesday. Tony Wright, 64, said he's had "nothing but good experiences" with the brand and would not hesitate to use Thomas Cook again. "We were devastated to hear the news this morning and we hope it's not as bad as it sounds," he said.

Others were disappointed the airfares had not dropped.On Tuesday, Simon Ash visited the branch hopeful that the combination of the company's financial woes and a lack of tourist interest in Egypt because of rioting there could help him find a cheap ticket to Cairo _ but he could not find one. "The prices they're giving me are not as good as the ones I'm finding on the Internet," he said.

Thomas Cook takes its name from the cabinetmaker Thomas Cook, who had a flash of inspiration while walking to a temperance meeting in 1841 to use the railways to help promote abstinence from alcohol. Cook's first venture was to charter a train which carried about 500 passengers in open coaches on a 12-mile round trip."Thus was struck the keynote of my excursions, and the social idea grew up on me," Cook later recorded.He organized more trips for temperance societies and Sunday schools. He took his business a step further in 1845 by arranging a trip to Liverpool, which included a 60-page booklet in the price of the ticket.

The International Exhibition in Paris in 1855 inspired Cook to organize a trip to the continent. Ten years later, he was organizing railway tours in North America.

Massive UK Strike Disrupts Services

2011-12-02T03:05:00.001-08:00

A massive strike by more than 2 million public sector workers in the UK has caused schools to close and hospitals to virtually cease operation. Among those striking over cuts to public sector pensions are UK Border Agency staff, probation officers, radiographers, court staff, garbage collectors, customs officers, police civilian staff and a wide variety of other public services affecting nearly all aspects of everyday life. Rallies and protest marches are expected to happen across the country.

Source: planetdata.net

Three US Students Arrested in Cairo

2011-11-28T04:03:00.001-08:00

A fourth day of protests and violence continues in Cairo's Tahrir Square with thousand of protestors flooding into the city and being met by security forces firing tear gas and rubber bullets. During the clashes three U.S. students attending American University in Cairo were arrested for throwing fire bombs outside the interior ministry offices. The students are said to be in police custody and are being investigated for their alleged activities. No names have been released.

Source: planetdata.net

Travellers Choice 2011 - Best Food & Wine Destinations

2011-11-23T23:59:00.001-08:00

Top 10 Food & Wine Destinations in the United States

1 New Orleans, Louisiana

Breakfast in New Orleans is relatively easy: go for beignets and chicory coffee. For lunch and dinner, though, you’ll have to choose from an almost bewildering array of options, from Cajun or Creole specialties to BBQ to some of the best French food you can find outside France.

Don't miss

Cafe Du Monde
Commander's Palace
New Orleans School of Cooking
Old New Orleans Rum Distillery

2 Napa, California

Everyone knows Napa as a wine destination, and it lives up to the hype. This is oenophile heaven, and you could spend days going from tasting room to tasting room. There’s a flourishing restaurant scene, too, featuring everything from Michelin-starred standouts to tiny local bistros.

Don't miss:

Napa Valley Wine Train
Mustards Grill
O'Brien Estate Winery
Vintner's Collective

3 Chicago, Illinois

Chicago has high-end, world-famous restaurants like Alinea, the temple of molecular gastronomy where you might find yourself “sucking hibiscus jelly, tapioca balls and vanilla creme fraiche out of a cigar,” as one TripAdvisor traveler wrote. But it’s also famous for hot dogs and deep-dish pizza. In short—no matter your budget, this is a perfect foodie town.

Don't miss

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria - River North
Portillo's Hot Dogs
Chicago Food Planet Food Tours
Foodie & The Feast

3 Charleston, South Carolina

If you’re craving homestyle Southern food, Charleston is a great place to get it. Try she-crab soup, fried green tomatoes, ham biscuits and benne wafers—and be sure to leave room for dessert. Anything made with fresh local peaches is a safe bet.

Don't miss

Muse Restaurant & Wine Bar
Social Restaurant + Wine Bar
Charleston Cooks! Maverick Kitchen Store
The Original Pub Tour of Charleston

4 San Francisco, California

No doubt about it—San Francisco is a foodie town. Visitors can explore Chinatown, take a gourmet food–focused walking tour, splurge on the tasting menu at Restaurant Gary Danko (currently ranked #1 on TripAdvisor) or sample your way through the Ferry Building Marketplace… it doesn’t get much better than this.

Don't miss

Restaurant Gary Danko
Boudin Sourdough Bakery & Cafe
Ferry Building Marketplace
Green Dream Tours - Wine Country Tour Specialist

6 New York City, New York

Name a food, any food—you can get it somewhere in NYC. In fact, foodies often plan their entire NYC itinerary around eating. Dim sum in Chinatown? A neighborhood food tour? Coal-fired pizza? Dinner at the latest hot spot? The choice is yours.

Don't miss

Chelsea Market
Scott's Pizza Tours
Shake Shack - Madison Square Park
Casellula Cheese and Wine Cafe

7 Savannah, Georgia

Visit Savannah for amazing BBQ, shrimp and grits, shad roe, boiled peanuts, oysters and much, much more… all served up with gracious Southern hospitality. As befits a college town, there’s also a lively bar scene.

Don't miss

The Olde Pink House
Wiley's Championship BBQ
700 Kitchen Cooking School
Creepy Crawl Haunted Pub Tour

8 Santa Fe, New Mexico

We hope you like chili peppers, as you’ll encounter a lot of them (of both the green and red varieties) in Santa Fe. For a taste of real New Mexican cuisine, try posole (a spicy corn stew) and sopapillas (fried pastries—they can be savory or sweet).

Don't miss

Galisteo Bistro & Wine Bar
Food Tour New Mexico
Santa Fe Farmers Market
Chocolate Smith

9 Las Vegas, Nevada

Think beyond cheapo all-you-can-eat buffets. Nowadays, Las Vegas’ high-end casinos feature restaurants from some of the world’s most celebrated chefs. You’ll also find plenty of old-school steakhouses and a slew of breakfast joints. After all, if you’ve stayed up all night playing blackjack, you’ve got to eat somewhere, right?

Don't miss

La Cave
Twin Creeks
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

10 Asheville, North Carolina

If you’re into eating locally and supporting sustainable agriculture, go to Ashville—and eat, eat, eat. This town of less than 100,000 people has 17 farmers’ markets, and the local restaurant scene is all about taking advantage of seasonal produce. And don’t miss the area’s microbreweries.

Don't miss

Western North Carolina Farmers Market
Bistro at Biltmore Estate Winery
Asheville Food Tours
Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar

The German Government plant malware on the Laptops of Travellers at customs

2011-11-23T06:49:00.000-08:00

In an age of austerity and eroding human rights it appears that the German Government have taken it into their own hands to deliberately plant malware onto the Laptops of unsuspecting travellers passing through German customs.

It was the well known hackers group aptly called the "Chaos Computer Club" that first uncovered this extraordinary issue. In essence the Malware is like a Spyware that can syphon away intimate data, but also offers a remote control and back door functionality for uploading and executing arbitrary other programs. Significant design and implementation flaws make all of the functionality available to literally anyone on the Internet.

One would have thought that if the German Government were going to play such games with their own citizens that at least it would be secure Spyware! The Chaos Computer Club went on to suggest that the Spyware could even be used to plant evidence, giving this matter a 1984 feel. Moreover, it could turn on Web cams record conversations and load any other software to the Users Computer.

A number of different Anti Virus Companies managed to obtain the source code and confirmed the finding. Apparently FC Secure stated that "they had no reason to doubt the Chaos Computer Clubs findings". Shockingly a number of German states have come out to admit that they used the Malware in the conduct of various investigations,

Surely the European Law of Human Rights should get involved concerning this fragrant disrespect for basic civil liberties! The average traveller and man in the street should be under no illusions that such Government led practices are taking in various countries around the world.

The Hotel Taxi Scam

2011-11-20T23:33:00.001-08:00

This scam in essence is a common play conducted by Hotels across the world that do not value their clients best financial interests. In its simplest form, whenever a Hotel Guest requests to the Concierge or Reception for a Taxi to the airport or wherever, the Hotel calls a Taxi Company or worse still a friend of someone with whom they have crafted a commission based deal.

Essentially the commission becomes a kind of surcharge and the Hotel Guest will end up paying significantly more for the ride. The minimum mark up is around 5 euro and the maximum can even go up to 50 euro in extreme cases for longer rides. This scam manifests its way in various forms around the world. At London Heathrow Airport Hotels for example, commonly private cars are used (even unofficial on occasions). Some 5 star Hotels justify the unofficial surcharge by arranging for a Limousine or Luxury car, even if you just asked for a mere Cab.

SOLUTION
The first rule of the thumb is to simply never blindly trust a Hotel Concierge or Reception again to organise your Taxi trip to the airport or elsewhere. A good tactic in city Hotels is to locate a nearby rank and walk there each time. You will notice a significant difference in cost.

Failing that, go onto the Internet and look for a Taxi Company. Call them yourself. If possible meet the Cab just outside the Hotel so that the Concierge or Reception don't try to get a piece of the action. Each time you use a Taxi that offers a good service at a reasonable price, remember to ask for the number. In this way you can build your own Global Portfolio. This comes in very useful when you need to find a Cab and you find yourself exposed. In the case you have no other option but to use Reception, ask for the price beforehand and judge with common sense.

IBM Announces Mobile Security Service

2011-11-17T03:16:00.001-08:00

IBM recently announced a new mobile security service to protect sensitive corporate data. IBM says, "The service helps organizations protect against data loss and other risks caused by device theft, unauthorized access, malware, spyware, and inappropriate applications. It is designed to help mitigate security risks associated with the increasing number of employee-owned and corporate-liable mobile devices accessing sensitive business data."

Source: planetdata.net

Floods Close Second Bangkok Airport

2011-11-17T03:13:00.001-08:00

Historic floods in Thailand, which have left more than 360 people dead, have forced the closing of a second airport in Bangkok. Don Muang airport in the northern part of that city, which is being used to house evacuees from the floods is not expected to re-open for a week.

Source: planetdata.net

Ruling Party Official Says Putin to be Presidential Candidate

2011-11-17T03:11:00.001-08:00

An official from Russia's ruling United Russia party told state-owned RIA Novosti on Saturday that party members are going to nominate former president and current prime minister Vladimir Putin to be its presidential candidate in next March's election.
Of course there is very little chance of Putin not winning his third (non-consecutive) term as Russia's president.

Source: planetdata.net

Trip Advisor, Sleep in a tree-house

2011-11-10T23:57:00.001-08:00

Sleep in a treehouse!
Or maybe you'd prefer a houseboat or a windmill. These 10 quirky vacation rentals are incredibly creative and ready for your next vacation.

1. Unique Hilltop Windmill
Odemira, Portugal
From this hilltop haven you can enjoy the Alentejo, Portugal's best kept secret, at its best. Situated in an ecological reserve, the mill stands on a hill overlooking the plains that roll their way from the Atlantic coast to the Spanish border.

2. Exotic Treehouse at Kilauea Volcano
Volcano, Hawaii, US
While this vacation rental may stir up fond memories from childhood, the Exotic Treehouse at Kailauea Volcano is a fantastic choice for a romantic escape, nestled in the canopy level of a forest just minutes from the gate to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

3. Orchard Lodge Cabin
Lincoln, England
Located in rural surroundings on an 800 acre farm and close to the great Lincolnshire coast line. The two bathrooms feature a Swedish Sauna, a large spa bath, and a steam massage shower with mood lighting and radio.

4. The Barbecue Hut
Ockelbo, Sweden
Located in a tranquil and secluded village, these two cottages offer a beautiful child-friendly beach, an outdoor wood-heated sauna, hot-tub bathing barrel, and a wonderful barbecue hut with real reindeer skins.

5. The White Elephant Floating Inn
Boston, Massachusetts, US
Located near the USS Constitution in Boston Harbor, The White Elephant Floating Inn offers guests a whole different view of the city. With hardwood floors, beautifully furnished rooms and enough room to sleep ten, travelers may forget they're on the water in this vacation rental.

6. Clifftop Cottage
Glossa, Greece
As one TripAdvisor traveler put it, "What a place! The location on the cliff is spectacular, with stunning views over the Aegean Sea. The house is very spacious and offers wonderful views of the most fascinating sunsets."

7. The Mill of the Balsina
Vila de Cruces, Spain
El Molino de la Balsiña is an ancient watermill nestled in a valley on the banks of the Rio Arnego. It has terraced gardens, mile after mile of countryside, and consists of two stone houses: the Miller's house and the Weaver's cottage.

8. Little Red Caboose
Oakhurst, California, US
Train-loving travelers will love this property located just twenty minutes away from Yosemite National Park in California. This little caboose packs appealing amenities including Jacuzzi tub, barbecue grill, hardwood floors and a kitchenette with granite countertops.

9. Mijaran III House
Vielha, Spain
Casa Mijaran III is a traditional Aran-style two-story house with garden. With fantastic views of the River Nere and surrounding mountains, the house is the perfect place to enjoy the Aran Valley from the old quarter of Vielha.

10. At Home in the Dome
Sedona, Arizona, US
For travelers looking for their own "dome on the range," My Sedona Place is a dome-shaped property that offers all the comforts of home, including a full kitchen, three bedrooms, an outdoor patio and a big-screen high definition TV. It also boasts stunning views of the famous Sedona red rocks.

Floods Close Second Bangkok Airport

2011-11-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

Source: planetdata.net